Jjok-Baris Village (lit. a village of Japanese) (6)

Our safety dream place, Inchon,

After such sad things had continued, anyway the ship was sailing without any incident. We only prayed to advance into the territory of the South Sea as soon as possible.
We had had sleepless night between hope and despair, and in the meantime it dawned.
When we could catch the signs of several islands, a man shouted.
A boat like a Coast Guard is closing to us!
Take care!
Shouting so, some people ran up to the deck.
We will be captured by the North Coast Guard again!
We were under our breathes in the ship and soon someones voice said,
It seems a ship belongs to the South.
I climbed up in a hurry too and found that the flag on the approaching ship was not a familiar North flag but another flapping one.
Maybe we passed through the 38゜line safely and arrived at the dreaming south area.
Each ship reduced the speed and drew together. Two guards transferred from the Coast Guard to this ship.
Are you Japanese? They smiled gently and asked fluently in Japanese.
Our head explained the summary of this group and the process to get there.
I understand. Maybe you had a very hard time, please ease your mind. We must hand over you to American military. We will inform you about the details later.
Are there any sick people who want an immediate treatment? Please say so. Later we will come to give you some foods and water. They got off our ship, and then parted.
Well Done! Finally we are free! BANZAI, BANZAI
Now not knowing how to express our present feeling, all of us only cried out, shook hands, hugged each other and shared the joy innocently.
Beside us, there were some people who were only standing and tearing in a daze.
In the circle, our family confirmed our faces looking at each other and shouted,
We are lucky, arent we?
Both ships dropped anchors beside an island and people began to transfer to the original ship. My father moved back to this ship again after some separation.
Everybody tried the best!
My fathers voice heard in three days was in high spirit and reliable.
In the afternoon, the same Guard Coast came back with corns, millet breads, water, etc,and gave them to us. Thinking about a meal, we didnt eat anything for whole one day and a half. Because of a fear and a following joy we had forgotten our emptiness at all. Delivered rations instantly filled our stomachs.
You were permitted to land on Inchon next morning, so stay here tonight.
Saying so, the Coast Guard turned back again.
They only told us to allow us to land at that moment, so we didnt know about the details-- after tomorrow how they treat us and how a formal return to Japan is. In the ship enjoying a safety we had gotten at last, I assured that time was going by calmly and peacefully as if last troubles were not true.
In the dusk of evening, I wanted to confirm the outside situation, and went up to the deck alone.
Having looked around, I saw only an island and water. I couldnt see the port of Inchon, yet, so I supposed we were around the Yonjyon island floating in the Kyonggiman .
It had passed just one week since we started from Dasado. The landscape in South Korea where we could arrive earlier if we didnt come across the typhoon was so tender and I felt even the air I could breathe freely. Listening to the voices from the cabin, I drew a deep breath two or three times and tried to exhale the memory of the long and severe voyage.

Next morning it was very fine and an air and our feeling were very cool and fresh.

About 9 oclock I suppose- the same Guard Coast came with a tugboat and said,
From now, we will tow your ships to Inchon.
Two ships were connected and moved quietly just as we started from the Dasado.
In less than an hour, numbers of ships increased around there and we found a long expected port of Inchon.
When we were going to tie-up the ship at the pre-ordered place, I found a strange car rushing through on the jetty. It was a small four-wheeled vehicle with a back top and a white man wearing a khaki cap with both upper ends sharpened was driving it. Though I knew later, it was a jeep driven by an American soldier and anyway it ran fast and lively.
This was the first surprising thing for me.
As soon as the ship arrived at the quay, we landed all at once. Except the time when we landed for foods and water after a typhoon, we forced to stay in the ship, so our feet became weak and we staggered down. But this was just peaceful land, Inchon, which we had dreamed. Even if our feet were staggering a little, there were no shackles. Step by step, we advanced confirming the SAFETY.